Rhode Island man killed in pedestrian accident

Posted on Oct 09, 2015

A pedestrian in Rhode Island was recently killed when a tractor-trailer hit him on the side of the highway.

Whenever a collision occurs between a pedestrian and a motor vehicle, the consequences are severe. The size and speed of the motor vehicle often leads to serious injuries suffered by the pedestrian that can be fatal.

Tragically, a man in North Providence, Rhode Island was recently killed in a pedestrian accident. The man had pulled over to the side of the road on Route 146 earlier this month. When he got out of his vehicle, he was struck by a tractor-trailer traveling in the right lane of the highway.

While charges have yet to be filed against the truck driver, the investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of this fatal pedestrian accident.

Avoid a serious pedestrian accident in Rhode Island

Pedestrian accidents are a serious concern in Rhode Island and across the country. In response to the severe accident involving City Councilman Hassett a few years ago, a number of improvements have been made on Federal Hill in Providence recently.

Neon signs have been erected near crosswalks to ensure motorists notice pedestrian traffic. In addition, so-called bumpouts have been created, which prevent cars from parking near the corner and shorten the distance pedestrians must travel to cross to the other side of the street.

Law enforcement officers note that the number of pedestrian accidents has decreased in the area since the safety improvements were made. In 2012, 9 pedestrian accidents occurred in the area - in 2013, that number had fallen to five.

In 2011, 14 pedestrians were killed in collisions with motor vehicles in Rhode Island. Across the country that year, 4,432 pedestrians lost their lives in accidents involving motor vehicles - up 3 percent from the year prior. In addition, approximately 69,000 pedestrians suffered injuries in such crashes that year in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

As pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely to die in a car accident than individuals inside a motor vehicle, it is wise to take some precautions when traveling by foot. Pedestrians should always use a sidewalk when available and use marked crosswalks when crossing the street. In addition, when pedestrians are traveling at night, they should wear clothing with reflective panels, to ensure other motorists can spot them quickly.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident in Rhode Island, you should explore your options to recover financially for the harm caused in the collision. When such accidents occur, the best first step is to seek the counsel of a skilled personal injury attorney who will take action to help you recover damages.

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